First backpacking trip of the season and reminded me I need to up my cardio game. I felt very guilty, like I was holding the other two back, but they were so patient with me and my broken-down feet. The western part of the trail, from PA 87 to Brunnerdale Road is generally drier. Pass a fine campsite and then climb out of the gorge through large hardwood trees, particularly tulip poplar. Day 3 was the big push potential campsite at 42 or 47 miles. The park offers 15 miles of major and secondary trails leading to three breathtaking vistas. Once you do get across Ogdonia and walk along the creek youll find a nice site there and then after the climb there are a couple up by Angel Falls. Loyalsock State Forest Photos (365) Directions Print/PDF map Length 56.4 miElevation gain 10,449 ftRoute type Point to point Get to know this 56.4-mile point-to-point trail near Dushore, Pennsylvania. The LT is an end-to-end trail and, for a fee, shuttle service can be provided. Descend to Cape Run with cascades and falls. The western miles are more challenging, though, so you might consider allocating more miles on later days if hiking northeast. The day after got home I was ready to start planning to get out in the woods again for another multi-day adventure. Please check this website alert, the Loyalsock Trail Facebook Group, or WESP website for any changes or updates. Difficulty ranges from easy to strenuous. The trail is extremely easy to navigate and well marked. Im in so much pain. The Runs traverse through many of that area's hiking trails, logging roads, horse trails, etc. The gorge is very scenic. Great trail! On the hottest day that year we covered 15 miles with our packs on. listed miles and elevation to plan your days. We saw one giant rattlesnake and heard a mountain lion. Hiking North East and following guide book. Climb out of Big Run and follow an old grade, camping is available well below the trail near the creek. We went west to east and of course, at this time of year, you're going to have a bit more mud on this trail. Pennsylvania DCNR Loyalsock State Forest. Note the following: The most recent Edition of our LT Guide and Maps is the 20th Edition. Land Designation and Camping: This trail is mostly on state forest land where primitive camping is permitted; however, there are a couple brief stretches that cross private land where camping is not allowed. Expect to pay around $40/person for a pickup at one trailhead and a drop-off at the other. It can be a good idea to let the Loyalsock State Forest know where you are parked at, the state forest does have patrolling rangers. Purple Lizard Maps is a trademark of Purple Lizard Publishing LLC. Sones Pond looked like a very nice to camp as well with plenty of flat, pine needle-bed spots right next to the pond. Taxes and shipping calculated at checkout, June 18, 2021 Ecommerce Software by Shopify, Katie Anspach, hiker, single mom, adventurer. Descend steeply and hike rolling terrain which can often be wet. Reach another view of Worlds End and turn left onto Pioneer Road, a historic road and the first built through the Loyalsock Canyon. The LT was amazing. It is a classic Pennsylvania backpacking trail. This is also the road walk section. I know I went a little past the Park Office but it seems All-Trails is a little loner than they suggest. The Loyalsock Trail highlights the best of Pennsylvania hiking: vistas, waterfalls, streams, and regional history. 7 min read. I kept thinking about that famous Mike Tyson quote where he says, Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth! Loyalsock Creek, Haystack Rapid, Bear Wallow Pond, Sones Pond, historic CCC camps, numerous waterfalls, cascades and vistas throughout the trails system and roads Covers the 59 mi. Effective Monday September 19, and with a planned ending date of sometime in May 2023, the Red-X Link Trail will be unable to cross Rte. Loyalsock Trail and Link Trail Loop hard (222) Worlds End State Park Photos(1,626) Directions Print/PDF Map Share More Get to know this 16.5-mile loop trail near Forksville, Pennsylvania. To purchase full Guide with directions, maps and additional info, go to: Loyalsock Trail Guides . Still visible are old 2" X 6" rectangular yellow paint blazes with a 1" horizontal red stripe. Trail running: The LT and connecting trails host a couple of trail run races every year. These trails form alternate routes and bypasses, having both their beginning and end on the main LT. This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. Map 3- Ketchum Run to Brunnerdale Road (12 miles). Another one of my hiking friends was going to join us this week but due to the loss of a family member, he stayed home. old rail beds, rock scramble, and dirt roads. Please e-mail David Dahl or Matthew Gutberlet with any questions. Completing 16 miles, we set up camp away from the ridge due to winds, ate dinner without much conversation and we were both in bed again, before 8:00 p.m., neither one of us touching our books. Keep in mind, I hiked in long pants in early August--which was a good choice because there are extended sections on the trail where you'll be hiking through some kind of nettle (not urtica dioica) that even got me through my pants a few times. As the day went on, the temperature rose (late May in PA can be hot, cold or wet, or all of the above on the same day!). This map is an indispensable guide to the hiking trails of this state forest, including Worlds End State Park. Then it was about a 40-minute drive to the western terminus, which is a smaller gravel pull-off that still provides space for multiple cars to park. This trail has everything. Cross both branches of Double Run and begin a climb among boulders. The blazes are clear, well maintained, and frequent, and the guidebook by the Alpine Club is thorough and filled with interesting historical insights about the trail. The last sections near Worlds End State Park are exceptional;y breathtaking. I think the trail is a little easier that way and saves some of the best views for the end of the hike. Challenging and beautiful. Maintained and managed by: Alpine Club of Williamsport, Trail guide and maps: available for sale from the Alpine Club of Williamsport. The first day was my least favorite as a lot of it, approximately 6 miles is spent walking on a hard packed gravel road, good for time, bad for overall experience of the hike. I haven't done a long backpacking trip in a while, so I was feeling it in my knees and ankles--this is one rocky trail! Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources, Bureau of Facility Design and Construction, Conservation & Natural Resources Advisory Council. As for difficulty, thats all relative too. Instead, the Link Trail will follow the Loyalsock Trail (LT), from the WESP Visitor's Center at LT Mile 45.96 and head (after crossing Rte.154) up to LT Mile 44.63. Maybe I really wasnt cut out for this. Want to report conditions for this trail? Day 3 was incredible. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 7 h 32 min to complete. FIND YOUR WAY OUTSIDE is a trademark of AllTrails, LLC. From Hessler Branch, the LT climbs and descends between drainages. One nasty boulder climb. My feet were throbbing. View the map online, or to receive a copy, call or send a request to: Loyalsock State Forest Very snowy throughout the trail. It is a beautiful stream with many falls, slides, cascades, and a unique mini-gorge of fractured rock. mile 2-3) were a little buggy but by the end of the 3-day hike I had only two mosquito bites and no ticks. Today would include an eight mile walk through Kettle Creek Natural Area, a windy lunch at High Knob Vista, Rode Falls, and the sketchy backwards climb down the ladder into Ketchum Run. This group was created to share information, experiences, etc. Shout out to Aaron, hope the rest of your hike was lovely. 2021 Alpine Club of Williamsport | Site by, Gas Well and Pipeline Activity on Allegheny Front. Side hikes not to be missed: High Knob Overlook, Angel Falls, Dutchman Falls. Old paint blazes are being replaced with small disks. Angel Falls, reached via a short side trail at mile 23, is a must-visit. Ending a 14-mile day, we set up camp and were surprised with a steak and potato dinner. One of the newest trails in the park, Cold Run Trail, is sure to become a favorite among visitors. -Mud, mud, mud! These consists of 50K and 100K Trail Runs, which begin and end at Worlds End State Park. We rock climbed a little place down towards Gettysburg called white rocks and I seen Jay free climg the face to set up our belay lines. -If you're planning to do just a section I highly recommend mile 23 to mile 44. Day 1: Western trailhead to Snake Run (10.5 miles), Day 3: Dry Run to Double Run after Worlds End Road crossing (11.2 miles), Day 4: Double Run to Sones Pond (13.4 miles), Day 5: Sones Pond to trailhead at Dutchman Falls (6.2 miles). Althoughhh there are tons of blueberry bushes along the way so snag some handfuls of these while youre walking for a quick treat! I am capable of so much. An ideal place to cache food is along Dry Run Road. Worlds End State Park provides access to the Loyalsock Trail as well as several other shorter trails. Total Distance: 59.2 miles The creek is beautiful. Sones Pond is incredible and if youre looking for a sweet spot to camp has multiple sites right there on the shore. Hey Im planning on this one this summer 2019, Planning on a bus out from NYC through hike (Ill give myself 6 days and try to take it easy!). The Loyalsock Trail is a great trail for beginners and very experienced mountaineers. The 215-mile New England Trail winds along rocky ridges and through upland forests from Long Island Sound in Connecticut to the northern Massachusetts border. Following is info via the Races' Facebook link. This is a Half Marathon Race which explores various Trails within the Worlds End State Park and it intersects segments of the LT between Mile 42.77 and Mile 47.24, including parts of the Red-X Link Trail. To order the new Guide from its various sales sources, please visit or Order Guides webpage: Order 20th Edition. I reminded myself that she has always taken care of me. I decided in that moment to put all my trust into mother nature. Hike into a stunning mini-gorge with cascades. related to the 59.2-mile Loyalsock Trail (LT) in Lycoming County, PA. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 27 h 39 min to complete. Loyalsock State Forest, PA Add to Favorites Loyalsock State Forest is named for Loyalsock Creek, a scenic freestone stream that winds through the heart of its 114,522 acres. From there, Link will pick up where it currently is marked at Link Mile 0.60. Just got back from doing this trail last night. Some steep ascents and descents to keep it challenging. Hike offerings will appear on the Activity Schedule page of this web site. Did entire trail in 4 days. Since the Loyalsock is a forest I know so well, we spent a little less time appreciating the stunning landscape than someone new to the forest might. Would recommend spikes if you go and snow is on the ground. Also, its always good to support your trail associations and Im sure that the Alpine Club of Williamsport would love to get paid for the hard work that they put into keeping the guidebook current. This detour will add about 0.73 miles of additional hiking, if you are hiking the entire Link Trail or the LT-Link Loop. (LogOut/ The Loyalsock Lizard Map includes all of Worlds End State Park, as well as an inset map of the dense trail system. When we finally reached the spot that we were going to set up camp for the 1st night the trails treacherous +/- in elevation and the rugged terrain caused my legs to tremble for the whole last mile of that first 5 mile hike. He just grabbed a rope with his bare hands ran down the face. My partner and I through hiked it while we lived in PA. One of my favorite trails in PA. Driving and Shuttle: We drove two cars from Philadelphia (just under 3 hours travel) and parked one at the Dutchman Falls lot, where there are plenty of spacesno overnight permit required. Rode Falls is maybe the best of the trip, with a swimmable basin at the bottom. Thankfully there is another option hikers have - the Loyalsock/Link Loop. Descend on the road. Downstream is Gipson Falls. The water was crystal clear and there was deep holes and all kinds of fossils that can be seen in the rocks. Near water source. Then a day later while we were practicing repelling- for a future repelling trip to New River Gorge- and I personally seen him run down the rock face, face forward with no harness or figure 8. Known as one of the most beautiful long distance hiking trails in the Mid-Atlantic region, the LT is between 3-4 hours of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, NYC, Baltimore and Washington DC. This loop is 5-6 miles long. Overgrowth: In less-traveled western parts of the trail you should expect dense rhododendron, overgrown grass, and other vegetation. Great trail with spectacular views, scenery, and experience! The trail saves the best for the end, winding along Loyalsock Creek. Trail is very well marked with lots of signage and easy to see blazes. Highland Lake Manor is along the trail and is a restaurant for a private club, I do not know if it is open to the public. Nestled in the Endless Mountains, theLoyalsockTrail (known as the "LT") is a 56.4 mile through hike in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I brought the Loyalsock guide/maps which offered some additional info on the areas I hiked thru. Pass a rock outcrop known as Porkys Den due to the porcupines that live there. This maps also details the routes of the Loyalsock and Old Loggers Path backpacking trails. Parked by rt 220 and got shuttled to mile marker 1. When I think back on what I might have done differently for this trip, all I can think of is I might have taken just a bit longer to linger at some of the truly special places along the way. NO FIRES are permitted anywhere on the LT from March 1 to May 25, from October 1 to December 1, and at other times when the fire danger is posted as High, Very High or Extremely High. Another great site under canopy. 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